Pretty unoriginal topic for November, huh? It is a basic concept, being thankful, but one that I can't get out of my mind recently. I'm thankful for the many blessings I have in life. My family, my job, my church, my-first-place-and-going-to-the-super-bowl-Kansas-City-Chiefs and a variety of other things in my life that make me smile. I am also thankful for water. The number one killer in the world is the lack of clean drinking water, and I'm thankful that it is available for me wherever I turn, every second of every day.
My passion for helping solve the world's clean water problem began a few years ago when I watched this video, and I can't think of any more appropriate time to share it with you, especially in light of the activities to take place tomorrow (and at some stores today...):
Advent Conspiracy Original Video
We have so much to be thankful for, even without the presents. We have water. As we sit around the table today to enjoy a meal with friends and family, and as we prepare in the next few weeks to celebrate the birth of the King, I pray that we all are thankful, wherever we are in our lives, for the many blessings we have. Continually remembering Paul's final instructions to the church in Thessalonica when he said:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thess. 5:16-18
That's not always easy. How do we give thanks in pain? How do we give thanks in the anxious moments in our life? How do we give thanks when some in the world don't have clean water? The answer is revealed in what we will celebrate in 28 days - that Christ, who left the presence of his Father to come to this earth and be born of the virgin Mary, died for our sins. Be thankful that, despite our current condition-good or bad, one day He will return and bring heaven on earth. There will be no more tears, no more pain, no more lacking of any necessity. Be thankful in the uncertain present because of the certain future. Be thankful for Christ.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Month 10: Quarters
I talk a lot about running. I love running. I'm going to let you in on the secret strategy I use in every run (race or training). I don't have a copyright on this method yet, so make sure you don't tell anyone. Here it is: quarters. I divide every run into 4 quarters, each with a specific purpose. First quarter-warm up. Second quarter-set my pace. Third quarter- the fight. Final quarter- the finish. Mentally, its how I attack every run. Runs that are odd-numbered distances in length require a little long division, but I'm slow enough, I have enough time to think about the math while I run.
October is the first month of the last quarter of the year. Using my running strategy, I have just finished the fight and I'm coming around the bend for the finish of the Water for Water 2013 campaign. In every race, every training run, every jog, I want to finish strong. So naturally, I want to take that same mindset into finishing this amazing year strong. Our goal all year has been to raise $10,000 for a clean water well in Ethiopia and we sit today having raised $9,495.70 in pledges and donations. Time to finish strong and overcome the goal.
When you are in the finish portion of a run, you have made it through the fight, you have overcome the hardest part. 1 John 5:4 reminds us that when we abide in Christ, we overcome the decay of this world. I want to be an overcomer. I want to finish strong. I am revitalized and energized to fulfill every purpose of this campaign. To raise money, to demonstrate to myself what my basic needs are, to be healthier, to share the love of Christ with everyone in my life.
What last quarter are you in right now? Your life? (none of us know the answer to that one), parenting? employment? Whatever it is, let's finish strong together. When Paul was at the end of his life he told Timothy that he was being poured out as a drink offering as he had 1. fought the good fight, 2. run the race and 3. kept the faith. (2 Tim. 5:4). That is what I want for the small part of the year I have left, and when I'm done, I'll have a small glimpse of the completion of a task for the kingdom and encouragement for the next phase of my life. The finish quarter is the best of them all...
October is the first month of the last quarter of the year. Using my running strategy, I have just finished the fight and I'm coming around the bend for the finish of the Water for Water 2013 campaign. In every race, every training run, every jog, I want to finish strong. So naturally, I want to take that same mindset into finishing this amazing year strong. Our goal all year has been to raise $10,000 for a clean water well in Ethiopia and we sit today having raised $9,495.70 in pledges and donations. Time to finish strong and overcome the goal.
When you are in the finish portion of a run, you have made it through the fight, you have overcome the hardest part. 1 John 5:4 reminds us that when we abide in Christ, we overcome the decay of this world. I want to be an overcomer. I want to finish strong. I am revitalized and energized to fulfill every purpose of this campaign. To raise money, to demonstrate to myself what my basic needs are, to be healthier, to share the love of Christ with everyone in my life.
What last quarter are you in right now? Your life? (none of us know the answer to that one), parenting? employment? Whatever it is, let's finish strong together. When Paul was at the end of his life he told Timothy that he was being poured out as a drink offering as he had 1. fought the good fight, 2. run the race and 3. kept the faith. (2 Tim. 5:4). That is what I want for the small part of the year I have left, and when I'm done, I'll have a small glimpse of the completion of a task for the kingdom and encouragement for the next phase of my life. The finish quarter is the best of them all...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)